Black caucus urges delay in Chicago Fire officer exam

Waiting until March could double the number of eligible African-American candidates for promotion

By Fran Spielman
The Chicago Sun-Times

CHICAGO — The City Council's Black Caucus is urging Mayor Rahm Emanuel to postpone the Chicago Fire Department's April 21 promotional exam for battalion chiefs or risk locking in a lily-white leadership team for the next decade.

Ald. Howard Brookins (21st), chairman of the Black Caucus, said it makes no sense for the mayor to embrace and encourage 111 middle-aged black firefighter-trainees who finally got the chance to pursue their dream thanks to a court order without addressing the lack of diversity among Fire Department brass.

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